Topic: Dailies

What was so great about this July 4^th?

by

Leo Crocker Rogers

Like others, early this morning, I was painting my house. But on to more important things.

I’ll start with vegetables. Cucumbers that are 13 inches long and five inches in circumference for $.20 each. Bell peppers for $.20, and a one gallon of dill pickles for $3.50. All this makes a drink of gasoline at $2.97 a gallon seem expensive. Then again, if one is of the upper class, one can spend $10.32 per gallon for bottled water. Boy, those pint-sized plastic containers must be something special. You think?

Here is the delight of the day. I was walking this morning. I see some 20 people on my walk, those with dogs, those running, those jogging, those walking like me, and cyclists too. I read the Bible and Science and Health as I walk, so I walk at a moderate speed. As I was happily strolling, I heard multiple foot steps coming from behind me. No panic but a quick look over my shoulder revealed a man in the outer portion of the bike lane hoofing along. He was not working very hard. Next, about in the middle of the lane, and back some five strides back from the man, came a 12 year old boy who was also running within his ability. Finally, about five strides back from the 12 year old boy was an 8 year old boy, hugging the curb. The others, I could not see well, but the younger boy I could see clearly as he was very near me. He was stride for stride with his dad and brother, but would not go shoulder to shoulder with them. Why not? Because they might then pick up the pace, and he would have to also. He was passively controlling the run. They would not leave him so he set the pace. The younger boy’s face was flush with blotches of pink. He was working but clearly strong in stride. He was breathing whereas his dad and brother were not. Likely, he could have relaxed and been more at ease, but he wanted his defiance to show. I felt for that boy on two counts. My first feeling was sad. Why did he have to disapprove? I have seen that face before. Why not just join in and enjoy his dad and brother? His rebellion, at the age of eight, was already holding him back in life. The second feeling was hope. Sometime in this boy’s life, he will realize he can do what he may not like to do, and he can do it well. Some time in his life, he will be a dad, and he will know the value of mentioning, and pulling, and encouraging, and the delight of being with a younger person, especially if the young person wants to be with him and is willing to learn.

Let us be willing followers and gracious leaders. Let us value that we have a bountiful country in food, fuel, and friends (relatives). Let us give thanks that we can be independent, but not rebellious.

What is a cucumber if not to be in a salad. What for is gasoline if not to give us transportation. What for is any sport if not for learning to overcome our self-imposed limitations – and life if not for the same?

Let the fireworks begin as we see more clearly that we are here to bless each other.

Thank you farmers, truck drivers and grocery people for the value of the vegetables. Thank you oil well drillers, line transporters, refiners, and distributers for the gasoline supply I have as nearby as cucumbers from the grocery. No thanks for the marketing of filtered water that has a value of less than a penny being sold for over $10.00 per gallon. And thanks for every mother, dad, and friend that will pull us along so we can learn to do those things that we may not like. Improving what we like to do is a no-brainer. Improving what we do not like to do is character building and makes it so when the bell rings, we are at the ready in more ways than what is easy for us.

The test of life or a of country is seldom in the arena of our strength. But the test will come.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2006 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!